Let Ponting bat, without the captaincy

Ricky Ponting was never a great captain, though he led a great side, says Suresh Menon in Tehelka. As he presides over his team's decline, he is also approaching the end as captain. But he is still Australia's best batsman, and should be persisted with that way, feels Menon.

Traditionally, Australia first choose their eleven and pick the captain, usually the best batsman, from within (unlike England and India who first pick the captain, thus investing the job with a special aura). With Ponting showing that at 35 he is still the best batsman in the side but not necessarily its best captain, it might be time to throw tradition out of the window and pick a captain who is not necessarily the best player. Australia can afford to do without their most successful captain, but not without their most successful batsman.